Reused passwords turn one breach into total account compromise. Attackers routinely test leaked credentials across Gmail, Amazon, PayPal, and banking sites—a technique called credential stuffing.
Use a password manager
Generate unique 20+ character passwords for every site. You only memorize one master password. Leading managers sync encrypted vaults across devices and flag breached passwords.
Passphrases work
Four random words beat complex short passwords: correct-horse-battery-staple style. Length defeats brute force more effectively than symbol substitution alone.
Monitor breaches
Services like Have I Been Pwned alert when your email appears in leaks. Change affected passwords immediately and enable 2FA on those accounts.